Device for cleaning flume gratings



W. 0. RANDLETT.

DEVICE FOR CLEANING FLUME GRATINGS.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE I6, 1921.

1 41 2 9 6 2 9 O Patented Sept. 19, 19226 4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

g ll W. 0. RANDLETT.

DEV|CE FOR CLEANING FLUME GRATINGS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1921.

Patented Sept. 19, 119220 4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

w. 0. RANDLETT DEVICE FOR CLEANING FLUME GRATINGS.

API LICATION FILED JUNE I5, 1921.

O 2 m 2. m 93 H 1 mu 9 M 14 E erL SM &4 6 LL n W a P W. 0. RANDLETT.

DEVICE FOR CLEANING FL'UME GRAHNGS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, I921.

PatentediSept. 19, W22,

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- Fatented Sept. 19, 1922..

earner orrrce.

WILLIE o. nannrn'r'r, or nroniuonn, vrnernre, essrenon or one-near 'ro crane n.

nucnan'an.

DEVICE FOR CLEANING JFL'UME GRATXNGS:

Annltcation filed June 16,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIE (l. RANnLnrT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Cleaning Flume Gratings, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for cleaning fiume gratings.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of this character which can be readily used in connection with any of the forms of gratings now used and in which a frame is used to travel up and down over the gratingand having means for attaching difierent terms of rakes for cleaning the grating of difierent character of trash such as leaves, sticks or logs as the case may necessitate.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of this character in which the difierent forms ofrakes are interchangeable and so arranged that they may be held in such a position that the rake will readily descend past the trash and can be moved into a position to catch and raise the trash on its upward movement and can be dumped free of all trash or logs when in its raised position; and in which all operating parts are above the waterline for inspection and repair.

Another object or the invention is to provide a cleaning device which may be carried along and usedat difierent points of the grating and thus necessitate but one cleaner for any number of gratings leading to the turbines and also provide a cleaner in which all the operating parts are above the water line, thus preventing any possibility of the trash interfering with the operation of the device.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a simple cheap and ellective device of this character having a wide range of operation andhaving certain details of structure and combination of parts herein-v after more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1, is a front view of a flume gratin' showing the rake carrying frame in position with the log rake applied.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view 0 Fi ure 1.

l igure 3, is an enlarged perspective view 1921. Serial No. 478,187.

of the rake carrying flame showing the stop for the log rake removed.

Figure l, is a front View of the rakecarrying frame showing the ,trash rake in place of the log rake shown in Figure l of the drawings.

Figure 5, is a vertical transverse sectional view of Figure 4 of the drawings.

Figure 6, is a. vertical sectional view similar to Figure 5 showing the rake hinged above and showing the basket applied, for dumping the trash therefrom.

F i re '7, is a side view of the grating showing a form of rake carrying frame in which the rake travels directly on the rake bars. i

Referring now to the drawings, 1 represents the grating ot a fiume-tor use in turbines or other water power plants and which are usually arranged in a series, one grating to each turbine. These gratings are or different width and are verticall r disposed but in some instances they are ob iquely arranged. At the ends of each are vertically or obliquely arranged to correspend with the grating, the channel irons 2 and 3 which extend parallel with the grating and in front thereof and which form guidewa s for the cleaner carrying "frame as clear yshown in the drawings. -The channel ironsbetween the series of gratings are made of a double form to provide guides for the cleaner carrying frame for the grating on either side, it being understood that the one cleaner carrying frame is moved along and used to clean any of the gratings.

Thecleaner carrying frame consists of It. shaped end beams 4 and 5 having the rollers 6 and 7 mounted therein adjacent the upper and lower ends and which extend into the channel irons 2 and '3 and whereby the frame has a tree vertical movement in the channel irons. The end beams a and 5 are connected at their upper end by the L shaped beams 8. The lower ends of the side beams a and 5 have ri' idly connected thereto the outwardly eaten ing it. beams 9 and 10 which have their outer ends connected by the L beam 11 all of which as heretofcpre stated slides in the channel irons 2 an 3.

The beam 8 has in its upper face the eyes 12 and 13 to which are connected the cables 14 and. 15 by means of which the frame is lowered or raised in the channel irons. It

will be understood that the cables 14 and 15 are attached to a movable crane or the like whereby it is moved along the flume grating- I all of the gratings.

The transverse beam 11 adjacent its ends is provided with the hinge members 16 and 17 which are of a double form as shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6, so that the rake can be pivotally connected thereto in either position shown in Figure 5 or the position in Figure 6 of the drawings as will be hereinafter more fully described. As shown in the drawings the rake 17 consists of a rectangular frame made of angle irons and having the teeth 18 extending entirely across the same and have pointed outer ends. The side irons 19 of said rake frame are provided with the two or more double hinge members 16 and 17 by means of bolts 21 in the a position shown in Figure 5 of the drawings or pivotally connected by bolts in the position shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, it being understood, that additional intermediate hinges maybe applied if necessary.

When the rake is connected to the lower position of the frame as shown in Figure5 cables 22 areconnected to the eye of the hinge 20 and extend upwardly around pulleys 23 mounted in the cross bar 3 of the frame and extend upwardly and are operated in any desired manner. These cables in the downward movement of the frame are held taut so that the rake frame is held in ap roximately a vertical position as shown in igure 5 so that in the downward movement of the frame the trash which hangs close to and against the rating will not be engaged by the rake an a free downward position b movement of the rake carrying frame is permitted.

The rake at each end 'is provided with eyes 24 to which are connected the cables 25 which extend upwardly around the pul leys 26. carried by the inner ends of the. outwardly extending beams. These pulleys are set in the beam a short distance from the ends thereof, 'so that the cables can not jump off of the ulleys. The cables 25 extend vertically rom the pulleys and are operated in any desired manner from above. As heretofore stated the rake carrying frame is lowered when the rake is in the position shown in Figure 5, it being held in this the cables 22. When the rake carrying ramehas reached the lower ends of the guideways, the cables 22 are released the bars. While the independent cables 14 and 15 heretofore described may be used for lowering and raising the rake frame, the entire operation of lowering and raising the rake frame and in operating the rake from a vertical to a horizontal osition is preferably controlled by the cab es 22 and 25, the cable 25 being gradually released as the cables 22 are tightened, until the rake is brought to a vertical position when the cables 22 will support the. entire weight of the frame and holding the rake teeth away from the rating in the downward movement for t e purpose heretofore described.

From this it will be seen that any deposit of sand, mud or the like at the lower end of the grating is raked towards the gratin in the movement of the rake from a verticai position to the horizontal position. The sand, mud or the like which is not taken up by the rake is so agitated that the flow of water carries it through the flume grating and therefore the fiume ating can not fill up above the base of t grating. When the rake frame has been moved to the horizontal position the cables 25 are drawn up to maintam the rake in the horizontal position, and at the same time raise the rake frame above e up t e trash which is held by the flow of the water, and against the grating, and when above the grating can be readil emptied by releasing the cable 25, and-t e cables 22 gradually tightened.

The operating cables at the upper ends are preferabl attached in a vertical plane slightly within the face of the ating so that when the rake frame is raise above or free of the grating, the rake frame can be swung inward if desired and cleaned of trash or logs by hand independent of the method of dumping by the cable or other means.

It often happens that logs accumulate against the grating in which event the ordinary rake is removed by removing the bolts 21 and placing the log rake 26 ivotally connected thereto by the same Eolts 21. This log rake consists of two 1. beams 27 and 28 to which are attached the rake teeth 29 which have their lower ends curved inwardly at 30 and which extreme ends are in a plane beyond the outer edge of the gratingwas shown in Fi re 2 of the drawings. hen usin the 0g rake the plates 31 are bolted to t e transverse beam 11 of the frame so that the rake can not move inwardly beyond the position shown in Figure 2 and thus the ends of the rake can not pass between the grate bars and catch on the grating, thus as will be seen, it carries.

braces thereof. These plates are held by the removable bolts 32 so that they can be readily removed or replaced when desired as the have to be removed whenthe regular ra e is used. The L beam 28 has rings bles which extend upwardly around the pulleys as heretofore described.

In using the log rake the frame is lowered into the flume and the cables 22 having been kept taut to hold the rake bars 29 out in the position shown in dotted lines Figure 2. When the frame has reached its lowered position the cable 22 is slackened and the 2 and the frame is raised by the cables 22 and 25 heretofore described. The cables 25 are kept taut to hold the rake bars in this position until the frame reaches its upper position when they are gradually released and the cables 22 are tightened to swing the rake bars in the position shown in dotted lines Fig. 2 and the logs, trash and the like are dumped therefrom.

In the form shown in Figure 6 the rake 17 is pivoted above by the bolts 21 and normally remains in the horizontal position shown in Figure 6 with the rake teeth close to the grating. In this form the cables 22 are connected to the upper pivot of the eye at 22 and in this form a pivoted basket 34 is carried by the inner'end of the basket and normally rests flat thereon.

While I preferably operate the log rake as illustrated in Figure 2, the log rake can be reversed when hung from the bottomjof the frame by removing the bolts 21 and turning the hooks outward, as will be readily understood.

In order to hold the rake in the position.

shown in dotted lines, Figure 6, I provide a sliding bar 36 working in the guides 37 carried by the frame and adapted to engage and hold the rake in the position shown in dotted lines Figure 6 as heretofore mentioned. This is essential to allow the free downward movement of the rake in lower-' ing the same. In order to dump the basket its upper edge is provided with a projection 38 at each end which extends in beyond the guideways and is adapted to engage the stops 39 carried by the guideways whereby when the sliding frame has reached a certain oint the basket is dumped as will be readi y understood.

In the form shown in Figure 7 the three forms of rakes and baskets may be employed and operated in the same manner as heretofore described. but the sliding frame does not work in guide ways adjacent the gratmg but the ends of the frame are provided with grooved pulleys -10 which roll directly on the grating and whereby my device is designed to be used on any form of grating.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim. and desire to secure by Letters Patent is i 1. The combination with a grating of the character described, comprising a frame sliding longitudinally of said grating, a pivoted reversible rake carried by the lower end of the frame, means for raising said frame, and means for rocking the rake on its pivot.

2. The combination with a grating of the character described, comprising a frame sliding longitudinally of said grating, a pivoted reversible rake carried by the lower end of the'frame, cables for raising and lowering the frame, and cables for rocking the rake on its pivot.

3. The combination with a grating of the character described, comprising a frame sliding lon itudinally of said grating, means for pivota ly connected rakes of different character to the lower end of the frame, means for raising and lowering said frame, and means for rocking the rake on its pivot.

4. The combination with a grating of the character 4 described, comprising a frame sliding longitudinally of said grating, means for pivotally connected rakes of different character to the lower end of the frame, positive means for holding the rake in either its inner or outer position, and means for raising and lowering said frame.

5. The combination with a grating of the character 1 described, comprising a frame sliding longitudinally of said grating, a pivoted rake carried by the lower end of the frame, cables attached to the rake for holding it in a vertical position when the frame is lowered and cable attached to the opposite sides of the rake for moving it inwardly in a horizontal position and holding it in said position during the upward movement of the frame.

6. The combination with a grating having guideways at the ends parallel therewith, a cleaner frame sliding in. said guideways, a rake adapted to be pivoted either to the lower or upper edge of the horrizontal portion of the frame, to remain permanently in a horizontal position when pivoted to the upper edge or to swing in a vertical position when pivoted to the lower edge and means for operating said pivoted rake.

7. The combination with a grating having guideways at its ends parallel therewith a cleaner frame sliding in said guideway, a rake adapted to be pivoted to the upper or lower edge of the horizontal extension of the frame and a basket pivoted to the rake when pivoted to the upper edge and adapted to lay flat upon the rake, means for holding the rake and basket in a. tilted position and means carried by the guideways for engag' guide ways at its ends parallel therewith a cleaner frame slidingin said guide way, a

pivoted rake carried by the frame, a hasket pivoted to the upper face of the rake a lock for holding the rake and basket in its tilted position, projections-carried by the basket and extending upwardly opposite the character described, having guideways at its ends parallel therewith, a frame sliding therein, a log rake pivoted to the frame, stops to limit the inward movement of said rake, means for holding the rake in its limit of inward movement, means for holding the rake in its outward position and means for raising and lowering the frame.

10. The combination with a grating of the character described, having guideways at its ends parallel therewith, a frame sliding in said guideways, means for pivotally conits ends parallel therewith, a frame sliding therein; a log rake adapted to be pivoted to the frame, stops 'to limit the inward movement of said rake when the teeth extend towards the grating, means for raising and lowering said frame.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIE 0. RAN DLE'llT. 

